Abstract
This paper explains Confucius' positive view of human nature by which all people need guidance to learn the joy of ren or love in moral purpose/service. The paper compares this to the cultivation of Buddha Nature that Confucius would have seen as quite asocial, selfish and not in keeping with his humanist dynamic of helping to create a better society that fit with the cosmos.

From the Paper
"The contrast that is found between Confucian ideas of human nature and the Buddhist concept of `Buddha nature' has to do with very old Chinese debates on the basic nature of the person. For Confucius, human beings were basically good. They needed direction and might need to be corrected. The bad person was someone that had not had the right training for life, so that he or she had not learned to maintain a good approach to others. The bad person could not see society or the..."

Tags:confucius, human nature, buddha nature

Abstract
This paper is about three sculptures of the Buddha image and how they have changed throughout different cultures and time periods. The paper begins with a discussion of a standing Buddha from India, which was where Buddhism began. It then moves on to two other countries, Tibet and Thailand, where Buddhism is still popular. The paper then explains how the people of these countries took what the Indians had done in their portrayal of the Buddha and made it their own, adding parts of their culture to the image. In regards to Thailand, there is a discussion about the Sukhothai walking Buddha, which was probably the most important image from that period. Then, the gold image from Tibet is discussed, which was very interested in the cosmic or Tantric form of Buddhism. The paper concludes by pointing out that the image has changed over time and cultures, but still enables us to know it?s a Buddha image through the consistent characteristics given to the Buddha in sculpture.

Tags:art, buddhism, history

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the life story of Buddha. Specifically it discusses Buddha's life and how he attained the ultimate enlightenment. It looks at how Siddhartha Gautama is considered to be the Supreme Buddha (often called simply "the Buddha," or Buddha Shakyamuni) who created the Buddhist religion and how his life story is an interesting blend of wealth and privilege combined with great compassion and religious awareness. It discusses how he threw away all the rich trappings of his life to attain enlightenment and serve others and how his life shows the power of belief and spiritualism.

From the Paper
"Buddha was born a prince to parents who were king and queen of Lumbini, which is located today in Nepal. One biographer notes, "The Buddha was born the son of a king, and so grew up with wealth, pleasure, and the prospect of power, all goods commonly desired by human beings" (Carrithers 2). It seemed the Buddha had everything he could possibly desire, but he still was not content. Even after his parents arranged a marriage for him, he felt as if there was something missing from his life. He married and even had a son, but still he wanted to do more than rule his kingdom and raise a family. Because he saw suffering in his father's kingdom and wanted to do something about it, he decided to leave his home and seek enlightenment and understanding so he could help end the suffering of the people of the world. "

Tags:enlightenment, nepal, Shakyamuni

Abstract
This paper briefly compares and contrasts Hermann Hesse's treatment of the life and message of Buddha and the rise of Buddha Siddhartha with the treatment of these important matters as they are dealt with in an extensive article in the fifteenth volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Chiefly, the paper argues that Hesse's rendering of Buddha and of Buddhism is less historical and focuses upon Siddhartha Buddha as a Europeanized Byronic figure who eschews the disciples he allegedly had according to the surviving historical record.

Tags:siddhartha, gotama, buddhism

Abstract
This paper discusses Siddhartha Gautama, who was revered by his disciples (Buddhists) as the Buddha, or the "Awakened One". It describes the history of Buddhism as a distinct religious tradition and the life of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. The paper focuses on the narrative of Buddha's life, his wanderings and his Buddhist followers.

From the Paper
"After his mother died Siddhartha was nursed and raised by his mother's sister, who was the second cohort of his father, the King Suddhodana. They lived in the capital Kapilavatthu. His father, the King surrounded his son with luxury and pleasures out of fear that the young prince would abandon his royal place and position and he would not have a successor. He lived the life of privilege in accordance to his father's position, with servants. Historically, "we do not know anything about his physical stature or facial appearance. We know little about his personality with absolute certainty" (Olson, 2005, p.22). Many narrators of the Buddha narrative have attributed Siddhartha with great physical beauty and strength, as well as cleverness and intellect. In due time Siddhartha married a woman named Yasodhara and had a son named Rahula with her."

Tags:Yasodhara, Rahula, enlightenment, nirvana

Abstract
This paper explains that Gotama, the Buddha, changed common perceptions in many ways because, at this time Buddhism, was essentially a new religion preceded by Hinduism based on the
Vedic teachings. The author points out that Gotama made Buddhism a religion by extending the common perceptions of Buddhism from a code of living for individuals to a code for the greater collective. The paper agrees with Armstrong's book in asserting that the Buddha was an axial person, who changed the fabric of the society he was living, testing the bounds of convention and personally creating a new school of thought and living into existence.

From the Paper
"It is common knowledge that in Buddhist thought, which originated in India and made significant inroads into Chinese and other east Asian societies, there is a belief in the concept of karma. This karma can be likened to the Western concept of fate, although it is not quite the same, in that it shows the importance of destiny and the supposition that the individual's destiny is preordained. This changed the common perception significantly. It was also a factor that Gotama offered universally accessible enlightenment that was not restricted by class or social structure."

Tags:karma, thinkers, axial, enlightenment, change

Abstract
This paper summarizes and reviews Walpola's study of Buddhism. It explains that one of Rahula's central goals as an author in writing "What the Buddha Taught" was to make Buddhism seem less intimidating to those who were raised in nations where Buddhism was not an integral part of the culture. It explains the religion in laymen's terms and exalts the Buddha.

From the Paper
"Throughout his text, What the Buddha Taught, Rahula stresses the simplicity of Buddhist philosophy, rather than dwelling upon the complex mythological structure that forms its nationalist incarnation in nations such as Tibet or Japan. Rahula does give a brief and engaging introduction to the basic biography of the historical Buddha, but his main focus is to distill the principal tenants of Buddhism into a basic structure of speech, thought, and action for students of Buddhism in American and students studying introductions to religion in university classes (in which his text is now almost universally required) across the American nation. Rahula's own theological project in writing the book, as such, was to create an accessible form of Buddhism for aspiring Western practitioners, so that they may feel that they too, can enact the actions, words, and life of the Buddha after reading the book and for those who did not wish to practice, to at least gain respect for the tradition from which he came."

Tags:eastern, philosophy

Abstract
This paper looks at the life of Siddharta Gautama Buddha and also some of his teachings. The paper also looks at a story of how Buddha talked to a Queen and discussed philosophical matters concerning life, death and rebirth.

Abstract
This paper is a comparison/contrast of the Confucian concept of human nature with the Buddhist concept of Buddha-nature. The two concepts are extremely different, but they still have much in common.

Tags:comparison, confucian, concept

Abstract
This paper examines how, just like Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), the Buddhist nun, Maechi Wabi, also began her journey into Buddhism from a background that otherwise would not shun and not expect her to change her way of life so drastically. It compares and contrasts the story of Buddha with that documented of Maechi Wabi in "Journey of One Buddhist Nun" by S. Brown and shows how the stories are similar, as probably are many stories of people who decide to go against what is normally accepted and listen to their calling, by embarking on journeys that capture the human spirit and enlighten us all on what it truly means to be human and to have happiness.

From the Paper
"Like her Lord Buddha, Wabi also had main events in her life. Along her journey towards the Institute of Thai Maechr, Maechi Wabi had to go against the grain by leaving her small rural village and facing emotional and physical obstacles. She was frowned upon by many, and at times, it seemed like an impossible task to become a nun. Her choice to become a religious woman would prove itself to be not as "honorable" in the eyes of society than if she had been a religious man. Maechi Wabi makes decisions based on choice rather than necessity as she enters the Samnak."

Tags:enlightenment, thai, maechr, samnak, nirvana